My Shows
News on your favorite shows, specials & more!

Dan Grimaldi, Ian Lithgow and More to Star in THE PEOPLE VERSUS LENNY BRUCE Off-Broadway

The cast also features Johnny Anthony, Timothy Doyle, Jonathan Spivey and more.

By:
Dan Grimaldi, Ian Lithgow and More to Star in THE PEOPLE VERSUS LENNY BRUCE Off-Broadway

The world premiere of “The People Versus Lenny Bruce” a play by Susan Charlotte, based on the legal case of legendary lawyer Martin Garbus, will be presented Off-Broadway this spring. Directed by Antony Marsellis, performances will begin on Thursday, May 7 at 7:30pm at Theatre Row – Theatre Four. The production is scheduled to run through Sunday, June 28, 2026. 

The story of Lenny Bruce and his New York trial is more relevant now than ever. A heart-breaking and thought provoking story filled with humor, this theatrical adaptation is the story of comic Lenny Bruce and his lawyer Martin Garbus who tried to save his client from the system – and from himself.

The cast for The People Versus Lenny Bruce is Johnny Anthony (The Other Americans, “American Horror Story”) as Lenny Bruce, Timothy Doyle (Fortune’s Fool) as Jules Feiffer, Dan Grimaldi (“The Sopranos”) as Herbert Ruhe, Ian Lithgow (Boy Gets Girl, “Third Rock From the Sun”) as Richard H. Kuh, Jonathan Spivey (Smart Blonde) as Forrest Johnson, Stephen Schnetzer (Filumena, “Another World”) as Martin Garbus/Narrator, and Roberta Wallach (The Diary of Anne Frank) as Dorothy Kilgallen. Michael J. Osgood, former Deputy Chief of the NYPD/Special Victim’s Unit, is Co-Producer.

At the conclusion of the trial, License Inspector Herbert Ruhe, the Prosecuter’s witness, said the following to Attorney Allen Schwartz: “We aimed for Bruce. We picked him out of all the performers. I know he was not obscene, yet in a way I feel he had to be convicted.” These words were spoken in 1964 but they could have easily been said in 2026. Jimmy Kimmel, Rahm Emanuel and The New York Times all referenced Lenny Bruce when speaking of how the first amendment was under attack. When Inspector Ruhe testified against Bruce, he knew Bruce was innocent. He not only rationalized his lies, he bragged about them!

The People Versus Lenny Bruce was most recently presented as a staged reading at the Ethical Culture Society of New York. See photos from the reading HERE!


Theater Fans' Choice Awards
2026 Theater Fans' Choice Awards - Live Stats
Best Direction of a Musical - Top 3
1. Michael Arden - The Lost Boys
33.4% of votes
2. Tim Jackson - Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)
15.5% of votes
3. Lear deBessonet - Ragtime
10.4% of votes

Don't Miss a Off-Broadway News Story
Sign up for all the news on the Spring season, discounts & more...


Get Show Info Info
Get Tickets
Cast
Photos
Videos
Powered by Ticketmaster

Videos


Spirit of the Game: The Ultimate Musical in Off-Broadway Spirit of the Game: The Ultimate Musical
Asylum NYC (5/14-5/17)
MENAFEE | Stage & Film Summer Season at Marist University in Off-Broadway MENAFEE | Stage & Film Summer Season at Marist University
Marist University Symphonic Hall (7/25-7/25)
EN EL TIEMPO DE LAS MARIPOSAS in Off-Broadway EN EL TIEMPO DE LAS MARIPOSAS
Repertorio (1/07-12/31)
Once Upon A Mattress in Off-Broadway Once Upon A Mattress
Gremlin Theatre (5/14-5/24)
UNMOORED | Stage & Film Summer Season at Marist University in Off-Broadway UNMOORED | Stage & Film Summer Season at Marist University
Marist University Symphonic Hall (7/12-7/12)
LAGNIAPPE | Stage & Film Summer Season at Marist University in Off-Broadway LAGNIAPPE | Stage & Film Summer Season at Marist University
Marist University Symphonic Hall (7/11-7/11)
International Human Rights Art Festival in Off-Broadway International Human Rights Art Festival
30th Street theater (6/05-6/07)
LA GRINGA in Off-Broadway LA GRINGA
Repertorio (2/08-12/31)
TRIP AROUND THE SUN | Stage & Film Summer Season at Marist University in Off-Broadway TRIP AROUND THE SUN | Stage & Film Summer Season at Marist University
Marist University Symphonic Hall (7/26-7/26)
PAPER MENAGERIE | Stage & Film Summer Season at the Bardavon in Off-Broadway PAPER MENAGERIE | Stage & Film Summer Season at the Bardavon
Bardavon 1869 Opera House (7/19-7/19)